Tuesdays at 9:20pm on ABC TV.

Thailand - Dr. Porntip

Broadcast: 15/4/2003

Reporter: Evan Williams

FINAL STORYSERIES 12EPISODE 27

Synopsis

Reporter Evan Williams travels to Thailand to meet Bangkok’s Dr. Death – forensic pathologist Porntip Rojansunan, who is waging a one-woman war against Thailand’s notoriously corrupt and trigger-happy police. In Thailand’s violent underworld, cops and crims are often indistinguishable

“If people don’t stand up and fight for themselves, those people with power will abuse their power and deprive people of their rights.” Porntip said.

She estimates that police lie or tamper with the evidence in 60% of the deaths she investigates. Some police officers have attempted to silence her through court action.

“They sued me because I did an autopsy of one person who died in police custody. From the autopsy I can tell that person might have been beaten by the uniformed guys until he died .. not as they said by the other prisoners”

Porntip’s stand against the authorities is transforming her into a people’s champion. She’s mobbed in public, asked for autographs, invited onto TV chat shows – a law and order pop star – who quite literally dresses the part. Her eclectic fashion sense, is more 1980’s punk nightclubber than sober- suited investigator. Her unforgettable wardrobe manages to both annoy the police and delight her growing army of fans.

“I just dress to support to make me happy to compensate the work not to be the actress. many news reporter want to interview me because of my straight word in the case and because of my fashionable appearance.”

But beneath the theatrics is a woman passionate about her work – demanding the justice denied to so many in death..